ACHIEVING DESPITE THE ODDS - A STUDY OF RESILIENCE AMONG A GROUP OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN HIGH-SCHOOL SENIORS

This article reports on a study examining the phenomenon of resilience , or the manifestation of competence despite the presence of stressful life events or circumstances, as a factor leading to the academic suc cess of 20 African American 12th-graders (10 females, 10 males) from i mpoverished backgrounds. Interviews were conducted with these at-risk but achieving urban California high school seniors, to identify intern al and external forces contributing to the development of resilience a mong them. Interview data suggest that their academic success is large ly attributable to three protective mechanisms: a supportive, nurturin g family and home environment; the youths' interactions with and the i nvolvement of committed, concerned educators and other adults in their lives; and the development of two key personality traits-perseverance and optimism.